T
here’s no avoiding Wheels of Fire. More monochromatic compared to the strange, saturated brew of Disraeli Gears, there are still a handful of songs tucked into this live/studio hybrid that, distilled, form part of the essence of Cream. “White Room,” “Politician,” “Born Under A Bad Sign” and the live versions of “Crossroads” and “Spoonful” are required listening. Still the double album sags in spots, nowhere more than the last side, where the live versions of “Traintime” and “Toad” form a tepid postscript to a sometimes scorching opus. The instrumentation is more studied this time on the studio cuts, from overdubbed guitar parts to the frequent participation of producer Felix Pappalardi (on trumpet, hand bells, viola, and organ pedals). A few tracks even hint at the music that would come from Gentle Giant: “Passing The Time,” “As You Said” and “Those Were The Days.” And “Politician” is a precursor to King Crimson, as nasty a song as Cream has committed to vinyl. These cuts make a case for Cream as one of the earliest progressive rock outfits, a title many seem begrudging to give. Perhaps it was their allegiance to the blues that barred their induction; few seemed willing to accord The Paul Butterfield Blues Band the same respect for “East-West.” For me, it’s the mix of classical and rock elements that makes Wheels of Fire worth watching. They may not stun you the way a “Sunshine of Your Love” or “Tales of Brave Ulysses” does, but over time they work their way into your imagination with a disarming cunning. The live side adds little to the discussion, actually. You sort of figured that Cream could burn their way Robert Johnson’s catalog and turn “Spoonful” into a hearty meal, while “Toad” might represent the most tepid drum solo in my collection. Despite Baker’s dozen-plus minutes of drum doodling, his studio cuts are actually quite good (though “Pressed Rat And Warthog” fits the mold of the kooky drummer established and solidified by Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, and Graeme Edge). What emerges from Wheels is an album’s worth of very good material spread across two records. It’s not the cream of the crop, but if you approach it as a bountiful buffet you won’t come away hungry. Note that this was also released as a pair of single albums, entitled Wheels of Fire - In The Studio and Wheel of Fire - Live At The Fillmore.